21 year survivor

shortguyjd

Posts: 2
Joined: Apr 2002

Apr 20, 2002 - 4:09 am

Hey, new to the room but by no means new to the wrath of cancer. Faced with the question; "Who would cancer hurt more? A child that hasn't lived life yet; or an adult who has experienced most of what it has to offer and will lose what he/she is accustomed to?" I'm one sided on the answer, diagnosed with cancer at 12 months and announced cured at 4 years. I'm more than happy to be alive and well at 24 but my cancer wasn't hereditery so I have always wondered what I might have been; had I not have had it. My 2 brothers, didn't have it, are 2 times my weight and stand stand over 6 feet. I had 3 tumors and because of the locations, chemotherapy and radiation damaged the vital glands for growth and aging. I look like I'm 12, treated like I'm 12. I rock-climb with ease but I'm overlooked because it's said that a smaller/lighter guy has little trouble with the sport. I'm not taken seriously and I have to fight to get heard. I'm a pity case in some situations, something looks heavy and I attempt to grab it I hear "Let me get that for you." Theres several 4 letter words I could say but I hold em in and let that person feel good about themself. Cancer is a hard fight, seems like they're closing in on a cure so we are a limited species. 20 years from now cancer will be a "that's yesterday's news" moment. I don't think there is an answer to the question I was asked; "Who would cancer hurt more? A child that hasn't lived life yet; or an adult who has experienced most of what it has to offer and will lose what he/she is accustomed to?" I feel to say the child but surely if you're used to living one way and then have to change it is equally hard and burdens the soul. Both circumstances provide new experiences and outlooks on life and without survivors who is to say life won't be taken for granted? Life is not a right, it is a privelege and we must be thankful for it. Putting cancer behind us will help a lot of people but if we lose the survivors then we lose a whole new outlook on life and our ideas become extinct. Something good can happen to something bad and it doesn't matter who suffers more, we all have something to say. We can learn from the person that "had it worse." I don't know, could anyone tell I didn't like being asked that question? :oP

Hi, I get the same treatment. I had All when I was 3 and a half. I now look like I'm twelve...sometimes sixteen... at 24 years old. I get carded at movies (and the rare times I purchase alcohol). It's difficult to find people who will take me seriously because they assume they are speaking to a teen-ager. Try going out on interviews for a management position in your career field. That was fun, not!! (I had to prove that I was the actual age that I claimed to be on my application....can you say humiliating?) However, I suppose things could be worse :) I am very grateful to be among the living!! socharose

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